Conan: Life between Green Plum and Skyfall

Putting away his messy thoughts, Conan stared at the guy in front of him who looked gentle but had a gloomy face, as if he had heard something terrifying:

"Four guests, I heard from the villagers that you mentioned the name Aso Keiji, right?"

Hirata and Mingyin said solemnly.

"Yes, we came all the way from Tokyo because we received a letter of request from a man named Keiji Aso on the island!"

Maori Kogoro looked at Hirata Kazuaki's face and felt a pang in his heart. Could it be that Conan's prediction was right? Something really happened to his client on this island?

"But, this is impossible!"

Hearing what Maori Kogoro said, Hirata Kazuaki's voice couldn't help but rise a few degrees:

"Because, that guy Aso Keiji died more than ten years ago!"

"Dead, dead?!"

Mao Li was stunned for a moment, then reacted:

"Wait, when did you say he died?!"

I had originally thought that my client was Maori Kogoro, who had passed away in the past two days, but now I understand the point! My client had actually been dead for over a decade?!

"About twelve years ago, on a full-moon night, just like today, Aso Keiji, a renowned pianist on the island, gave a traditional musical performance for the islanders. Then, he went home, locked his family in the house, and set fire to it, killing everyone!

And, in the midst of the blazing fire, he kept playing the same piece of music: Beethoven's 'Moonlight'!"

Listening to Hirata and Ming's explanation, Xiaolan's throat couldn't help but move. She was usually most afraid of ghosts! But now, not only did they receive a letter of commission from a deceased person, but they also heard about the person's strange death. Her heart couldn't help but beat wildly.

"So, there's absolutely no way Aso Keiji could have sent the commission letter! If that doesn't work, you can take out the letter. I can find his old handwriting for you. Just compare it and you'll know it definitely wasn't written by him!"

This is Hirata Kazuaki's real purpose! Compare the sender's handwriting to find out who leaked the secrets about Aso Keiji!

Why would they dig up a person who's been dead for over a decade from now? Wouldn't it be better for him to just lie there? Why would they scare people with him?

If he knew who leaked the secrets about Keiji Aso, he, the current village chief Kuroiwa Tatsuji, and Kawashima Hideo, who is likely to become the next village chief, would definitely make this guy suffer a fate worse than death!

"Once we find him, let him try the new medicine! We'll just collect some data. Once we've collected the data, let him fend for himself!"

Hirata Kazuaki pondered. What if he became addicted? What did that have to do with them? Exposing this insignificant flower garden to outsiders and not letting him die outright was already a big favor to him!

Unfortunately, his wish could not be fulfilled:

"Although I also want to confirm whether it is the letter of request sent to us by Keiji Aso's ghost, but it's a pity."

Maori Kogoro shook his head regretfully and took out a piece of letter paper from his bag:

"Everything in the commission consists of words cut out from newspapers, without any handwriting from the client himself!"

"H-I see! I don't know about the envelope..."

Looking at the letter paper made of word blocks in Maori's hand, Hirata Kazuaki sweatdropped on his forehead.

"Is it really someone who knows the truth? Otherwise why would they be so careful! Even hiding their own handwriting? Damn it! If I find out who it is, I will definitely make you pay!"

Completely unaware that his subconscious concealment had saved him from disaster, Masashi sneezed. He looked around and sighed softly.

"Sure enough, no one came to stop me? In that case, let's act according to my plan! Dad, Mom, don't worry, I will be with you soon!"

Back at the dock, seeing Hirata and Akira's anxious expressions, Maori Kogoro also sensed something was amiss. They seemed a bit too eager to confirm the handwriting! He, as the detective, was clearly the one most eager to uncover the identity of the sender.

Thinking of this, Mao Li also kept a little more caution in his heart:

"I'm sorry, after I opened the letter, I threw the envelope away!"

"Ah, t-Is that so! T-That's such a pity!"

The smile on Hirata Kazuaki's face froze for a moment, and he spoke in a dry voice.

"Sure enough, this person seems to be hiding some secrets!"

Seeing his behavior, Maori Kogoro gave Megure a look. Inspector Megure also nodded and gently pressed the brim of his hat.

Judging from Hirata Kazuaki's performance, he made the right decision this time!

"Although there's no handwriting, could Secretary Hirata please take us to see the village chief? I'd like to learn more from him! After all, judging by the contents of this letter, it might not be a commission, but a crime warning!

I hope to learn more about Keiji Aso!"

Kogoro Mouri put away the letter, looked at Kazuaki Hirata, and spoke slowly.

"...Okay, the village chief is at the community center. Please come with me!"

After hesitating for a moment, Hirata Kazuaki nodded and agreed to Mori's request. Since Aso Keiji's affairs had been exposed to Tokyo, and he couldn't catch the person who exposed it, he simply let the village chief handle it!

After bowing to Mori and his group, Hirata Kazuaki led the four of them towards the community center.

......

"Eh? Secretary Hirata? Who are these people around you?"

Led by Hirata Kazuaki, a few people were on their way to the community center when a crisp voice rang out.

"It's Dr. Chengshi! What's going on? Is the clinic closed now?"

"It's almost time. Tonight isn't the anniversary of the death of the former village chief of Guishan. I'm going to leave work early and go back to change clothes. After all, it's a bit rude to wear a white coat to pay respects!"

"Is this Masashi Asagi? As expected, he looks exactly like a girl! No wonder no one can recognize his true identity!"

When Conan heard Hirata Kazuaki's name, he knew he had run into the real deal! The client of this case was also the murderer.